The IDF mistakenly sent drones to drop grenades close to UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, believing they were Hezbollah forces, it said Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier on Wednesday, UNIFIL said Israeli drones had dropped four grenades close to its peacekeepers who were working on Tuesday morning to clear roadblocks that were hindering access to a UN position.
“This is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November,” UNIFIL said.
One grenade impacted within 20 meters and three within approximately 100 meters of UN personnel and vehicles, it said.
The IDF had been informed in advance of UNIFIL’s road clearance work in the area, southeast of the village of Marwahin, UNIFIL said.
In response to a request from The Jerusalem Post for comment, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said it was not aware of the incident, even though UNIFIL had publicized it and it had occurred the day before.
By late afternoon on Wednesday, however, the IDF told The Post its troops at one of the outposts had identified suspicious activity. The forces then deployed stun grenades to disrupt and remove what they believed was a potential threat, the IDF said.
IDF does not explain why troops were unaware of UNIFIL's presence
The IDF did not explain why the soldiers did not know that UNIFIL forces were there, given that UNIFIL said it had informed the IDF in advance of its planned movements and actions.
Also, the IDF did not indicate whether its troops had been in touch with IDF officers who coordinate with UNIFIL on such issues.
Given that the IDF did not open a probe, it appears that no soldiers will be reprimanded, and that the IDF is not worried about any diplomatic consequences.
After reviewing the incident, the IDF said it had sent a clarification and explanation to UNIFIL, adding that it would never intentionally target UNIFIL forces.
Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously extended “for a final time” a long-running peacekeeping mission in Lebanon until the end of 2026, when the operation will then begin a yearlong “orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal.”
The IDF regards UNIFIL as a hindrance to its own actions against Hezbollah, and now with UNIFIL on its way out of Lebanon, the IDF’s response to its mistake might been more subdued than in the past. Such mistakes with UNIFIL do not occur often, but the incident was not the first of its kind.
Reuters and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.